PADDLEexpo 2014

The leading international paddlesports trade fair, PADDLEexpo 2014 in Nuremberg, Germany, is completely sold-out. Along with the industry’s leading companies, numerous new exhibitors will be using this globally unique specialty fair for their first-time showing to the broader market. 

The 12^th annual PADDLEexpo at the Nuremberg fairgrounds will take place Sunday Sept. 28 to Tuesday Sept. 30, 2014, for the first time in the brand-new 3A hall. Show director Horst Fürsattel has filled every last centimeter of the 4,986 square meters of useable space in the 8,400-square-meter new hall to satisfy the wishes of 136 exhibitors (prior year: 121), which will show a total of 271 brands (prior year: 263). This year’s edition of PADDLEexpo proves the value of the successful format introduced in 2013 of a compact, highly efficient trade fair concept.

Working trade fair for professionals

In Nuremberg, side-by-side with the industry’s leaders coming from all segments of paddlesports, 40 new exhibitors will launch products to the market. The leading international canoe and stand-up paddling fair has become more and more interesting to the related segments of sport, outdoor, fishing and tourism. It is not only becoming an even stronger international fair but also an increasingly professional show for getting work done.

In comparison to the show’s early years, the number of pre-scheduled appointments at the fair has grown considerably. That has made the event more effective in terms of doing more business per square meter, a concept welcomed by both exhibitors and attendees.

PADDLEexpo maintains its specialty focus on all variations of paddlesports. It offers expert information of the highest level at all of the exhibitors’ booths in Nuremberg. In addition, it offers a range of seminars and workshops.

Interesting for related segments

In the early days, paddlers were recognizable on the road with their campers, travel trailers and vans, all with boots on the roof and packed full with accessories of all kinds. But today that is only partly true. The folding and inflatable boat segment is growing enormously. And you don’t need roof racks or trailers for that anymore. These products fit in the trunk or can be taken along on public transportation. And this makes paddlesports even more interesting for a new group of retailers from sport and outdoor specialty. Those customers spend their free time just as often on the water as do camping and RV enthusiasts, travel trailer campers, or fishing fans who are often served by other retailers. And they didn’t target PADDLEexpo … until now. Exhibitors at PADDLEexpo can now deliver appropriate products for those retailers from related segments who also have paddlesports customers.

These developments will definitely influence the coming PADDLEexpo. Most certainly a few new faces will be expected among the 1,369 attendees who came to Nuremberg a year ago.

Hardware show

As usual, alongside the folding and inflatable boats, will be all of the traditional kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddling (SUP), as well as leisure boats, fishing kayaks and SUP boards, rental boats, paddle apparel and accessories. In particular this year there will be a wide offering of hardware exhibited. What professional attendees won’t find in Nuremberg is swim fashion, flip-flops, sunglasses or the like. This is one theme that paddlesport experts are in agreement on.

Lined up with all of the well-known brands are also a number of interesting newcomers at PADDLEexpo 2014. For example, Spade Kayaks. A few paddlesports industry experts have founded a company specializing in manufacturing especially lightweight whitewater PE blow-molded kayaks. At the fair for the first time is Vajda, a big name in competition boats. In the area of SUP, the U.S. brand Boardworks will be here for the first time, exhibiting at the booth of its distributor System X.

In the area of apparel, there will be additional interesting first-time exhibitors too. Among them are SUP neoprene wetsuit brands Onda from Portugal, Stormm Ride from Poland, and On-Line from Slovenia. Among accessory brands: GSB Electric, a notable newcomer; and Fasten Systems, which specializes in holders for fishing rod and other equipment. In addition, one can find OEM suppliers, which manufacture under contract various brands of boats and gear.

Full program, from workshops to parties

When the industry gets together, a strong program of course has to be part of the schedule. Thus, the first evening is reserved for the traditional Booth Parties. The Industry Party, held on the second evening, is now nearly legendary with its buffet, music and fascinating paddle films from all over the world. Always well attended are the professionally high-quality seminars and workshops offered by various exhibitors either in the conference center or at their booths. And the SUP Lounge is kept busy as a central meeting point directly where the large SUP exhibitors are located.

PADDLEexpo, in Nuremberg, Germany, from Sept. 28-30, is a true trade show with no consumers allowed. DKV (German Canoe Association) is the perfect partner. Trade professionals may attend the fair at no cost once registered at www.PADDLEexpo.com/ticket

In 2015, PADDLEexpo will take place Sept. 17-19.

High-resolution photos suitable for printing are available now for download in the press area of the website: www.PADDLEexpo.com/press

About PADDLEexpo: Begun in 2003, PADDLEexpo (www.paddleexpo.com) is now the leading paddlesports trade fair globally. The international platform for the paddlesports industry presents all of the newest products and trends, from kayaks and canoes, stand-up paddle, and folding and inflatable boats, to apparel and outdoor, and accessories and gear. A driving force behind the industry, the fair has also become a global marketplace, as well as a meet up and networking event for buyers, manufacturers, importers, retailers, media and associations. PADDLEexpo also functions as a major point of information distribution regarding rentals, event management, customer retention and watersports tourism. PADDLEexpo takes place annually in Nuremberg, Germany, in partnership with the German Canoe Federation.

For more information:

PADDLEexpo                                                              Bommas-PR

Horst Fürsattel                                                             Rainer Bommas

Tel. +49 9151 86 22 04                                                Tel. +49 731 175 8770

horst@paddleexpo.com                                                  rainer@bommas-pr.de